Great Gatsby
Gatsby's Pursuit of the American Dream The , a novel by Scott Fitzgerald, is about the American Dream, and the downfall of those who attempt to reach its illusionary goals. The attempt to capture the American Dream is central to many novels. This dream is different for different people; but, in The , for Jay, the dream is that through wealth and power, one can acquire happiness. To get this happiness James must reach into the past and relive an old dream; and, in order to do this, he must have wealth and power. The American Dream had always been based on the idea that each person no matter who he or she is can become successful in life by his or her hard work. The dream also embodied the ...
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Surprisingly, he devotes most of his adult life trying to recapture it and, finally, dies in its pursuit. In the past, Gatsby had a love affair with the affluent Daisy. Knowing he could not marry her because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to amass wealth to reach her economic standards. Once he acquires wealth, he moves near to Daisy, "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay (p83)," and throws extravagant parties, hoping by chance she might show up at one of them. He, himself, does not attend his parties but watches them from a distance. When this dream does not happen, he asks around casually if anyone knows her. Soon, he meets Nick Carraway, a cousin of Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting, "He wants to know…if you'll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over (p83)." Gatsby's personal dream symbolizes the larger American Dream where all have the opportunity to get what they want. Later, as we see in ...
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Great Gatsby. (2004, June 18). Retrieved November 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Great-Gatsby/9690
"Great Gatsby." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 18 Jun. 2004. Web. 23 Nov. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Great-Gatsby/9690>
"Great Gatsby." Essayworld.com. June 18, 2004. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Great-Gatsby/9690.
"Great Gatsby." Essayworld.com. June 18, 2004. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Great-Gatsby/9690.
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